All about the Kalindi Pass Trek.

The most beautiful of all adventures in the Garhwal Himalayas, the Kalindi Pass trek is the ultimate adventure, demanding a basic knowledge of mountaineering skills and techniques. The pass sits at a staggering elevation of 5,968 meters, and compensated for the daunting climb with breathtaking views that will leave you speechless. It also links the holy places of Gangotri and Badrinath. The arduous journey begins Gangotri, and stretched across Gaumukh, Nandanvan, Vasuki Tal, and Kalindi Khal. The challenging trail is laden with boulders, scree, moraines, and glaciers, chaperoned constantly by the majestic Mt. Shivling, Satopanth and the peaks of Bhagirathi I, II and III. The trail to Kalindi is a bridge between the river valleys of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. The trek is a favourite amongst veterans and mountaineers, as the journey is not for the faint of heart. The journey is just as much of a spiritual experience as it is a physical one, and comes to a magical end at the holy pilgrimage site of Badrinath.

Max Altitude – 5,968 m

Duration – 18 days

Level – Challenging; Technical

Highlights

1. The most challenging and thrilling of all treks in the Garwhal Himalayas.

2. Treat yourself to majestic views of the neighboring behemoths like Mt. Shivling, Satopanth, and the Bhagirathi I, II, III peaks! Also, the confluence of the glaciers Kalindi, Sweta, and Chaturangi are a once in a lifetime sight to behold.

3. You get to visit the beautiful village Mana, the last Indian village before the Chinese frontier.

Trek Itinerary

Day 1 : Drive to Uttarkashi from Rishikesh

Distance: 170 km

Time Taken: 6 hrs drive

Day 2 : Drive from Uttarkashi to Gangotri

Altitude: 3,048 m

Distance: 100 km

Time Taken: 5 hrs drive

Day 3 : Trek from Gangotri to Bhojbasa

Altitude: 3,792 m

Distance: 14 km

Time Taken: 6 hrs

Day 4 : Trek from Bhojbasa to Tapovan via Gaumukh

Altitude at Campsite: 3,890 m

Altitude at Gaumukh: 4,463 m

Time Taken: 4 – 5 hrs

Day 5 : Rest & Acclimatise at Tapovan

Day 6 : Trek from Tapovan to Nandanvan

Altitude: 4,337 m

Time Taken: 3 – 4 hrs

Day 7 : Trek from Nandanvan to Vasuki Tal

Altitude: 4,880 m

Distance: 6 km

Time Taken: 4 – 5 hrs

Day 8 : Trek from Vasuki Tal to Khara Patthar

Altitude: 5,480 m

Distance: 6 km

Time Taken: 5 – 6 hrs

Day 9 : Trek from Khara Patthar to Sweat Glacier

Altitude: 5,500 m

Distance: 4 km

Time Taken: 5 – 6 hrs

Day 10 : Trek from Sweta Glacier to Kalindikhal Base

Day 11 : Trek from Kalindi Base to Kalindi Peak

Altitude: 5,947 m

Distance: 3 km

Time Taken: 3 – 4 hrs

Day 12 : Trek from Kalindikhal to Raja Part

Altitude: 4,910 m

Distance: 12 km

Time Taken: 6 – 7 hrs

Day 13 : Trek from Raja Parav to Arwa Tal

Altitude: 3,910 m

Distance: 14 km

Time Taken: 6 – 7 hrs

Day 14 : Trek from Arwa Tal to Ghastoli

Altitude: 3,796 m

Distance: 15 km

Time Taken: 6 – 7 hrs

Day 15 : Trek from Ghastoli to Mana; Drive to Badrinath

Altitude: 3096 m

Distance: 18 km

Time Taken: 6 hrs trek; 2 hrs drive

Day 16 : Drive to Rishikesh

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance.

Inclusions in the package:

Accommodation: All accommodation on the trek will be on twin sharing basis in Tents or Homestays. Any accommodation in a hotel/guest house/hostel (if mentioned in the itinerary and not mentioned in exclusions) will be in a 2-3 star accommodation unless mentioned otherwise.

Transportation from Rishikesh: Transportation from Rishikesh to Uttarkashi and Mana to Rishikesh is included in the package. The transportation will be done in Bolero/Sumo Car.

Trek Leader and Guides: A team of an experienced and certified Trek Leader, as well as a professional guide, will accompany you for the trek.

Services of a Professional Trekking Team: A team of an experienced Cook, Camp Staff, Porters/Mules will accompany you for all the arrangements on the trek.

Meals: All Meals on the Trek are included. We will serve Vegetarian Indian food on the trek which will be cooked by our high altitude chefs. It will be a five meal plan including Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks and Dinner. You will be provided with clean mountain water from the streams to drink. You can carry water purification tablets if you deem necessary but we advise otherwise.

Trekking and Safety Equipment: All the camping equipment such as Tents, Sleeping bags, Toilet Tents, Dining Tent, Mattresses, and other things will be provided by us and we guarantee the quality. Safety Equipment including Medical kit, Oxygen Cylinder, Oximeter, Crampons & Gaiters(if required) will be provided by us. We recommend you to bring your own sleeping bags if possible.

Permits and Forest Camping Charges: Only for Indian Clients, All the applicable trekking permits, Camping Charges, Forest Entry Fee etc will be paid by us. Foreigners have to pay these charges if not mentioned.

A Life Changing Experience: We assure you that by trekking in the Himalayas you will have a life changing experience and we will do everything we can to provide you with the best services and make your venture in the wild an unforgettable one.

Exclusions in the package:

GST and Other Taxes: The goods and services tax is not included in the price mentioned with the trek. They will be charged once you add the trek in your cart. They are subjected to change according to government rules of India.

Flights and Transportation: Flights or other means of transport is not included in the package. Transportation from Home to Rishikesh and vice versa is not included. We can arrange a cab for you according to your requirements but you will be liable to pay for the same. Any expenses occurred during the journey are not included in the package cost.

Personal Trekking Equipment: Your Rucksack, personal clothing, shoes, trek poles, and other personal trekking gear is not included in this package. You have to bring your own gear according to that weather and difficulty of the trek.

Portage of Personal Bags(Offloading): We highly advise you to carry your own burden (your rucksack) but due to any reason if you wish to not carry your rucksack, we can arrange for a porter/mule to carry it. For this service, you will be charged over and above the trek cost. The charges for offloading vary with every trek.

Travel Insurance: Travel Insurance is not included in this package. We recommend you to have travel insurance before opting for such adventures.

Personal Expenses: Any personal expenses incurred (laundry, Bottled Water, Beverages, snacks, orders tea houses or dhabas, Tips for guides etc) are not included in the package.

Emergency Expenses: Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as accidents, bad weather, landslides, road conditions and any other circumstances beyond our control are not included in the package.

Anything not mentioned in Inclusions of the package.

Questions about the Trek

Whom is the trek for?

The Kalindikhal Pass trek is a technical one and climbs up to 5,968 meters. The challenging level of the trek combined with extreme high altitude demands rigorous physical fitness, endurance, and stamina, along with proper acclimatization. Only fit mountaineers who have scaled heights of at least 4,500 to 5,000 meters should undertake this expedition.

Which is the best season for the trek?

The months of June, July, and September are ideal for the trek. Monsoons should be avoided, as should winters, as it becomes difficult to identify crevasses due to high accumulation of snow.

What weather conditions can be expected during the trek?

The average temperature falls somewhere between 15 to 18 degrees in the daytime, while it can dip as low as -15 degrees at night beyond a certain altitude. The weather is quite pleasant during daytime, but becomes foggy with decreasing visibility post 04:00 PM.

Had a very beautiful experience with team Trekmunk on Hampta pass trek. Team was professional specially Salman. Couldn’t get to meet cook and other staff but they were amazing. Would definitely recommend them.read more

It was a very good and adventurous trip where we passed the difficulties of chilling coldness,fog, rain,rocky mountains,thick glaciers,steep slopes,difficult terrains and in all this trekmunk guys helped us in every step..provided good and healthy food and proper tips to sustain this trek. Thanks and cheers for Trekmunk !!!read more

My first Himalayan trek (Hampta Pass) and it was well organised. The trek leader and support staff made sure that all the arrangements are spot on. The food was good, but they could have had some more options for pure vegetarian ( for people who do not eat eggs).
I would surely recommend them !read more

Had awesome experience with Trekmunk for trek to Hampta pass. It was a 4 day moderate level trek. The organisation of trek was very good. Trek leaders were very supportive and gave attention to each individual. Vegetarian food was served with soups and snacks. Overall a very good experience.read more

Had the best time ever!! The Trekmunk team was simply amazing. They took care of everything really well and were very well prepared for anything that came there way. They made sure that Hampta pass was a great experience for all of us :Dread more

Had a really great time with Trekmunk. The trek leads for the Hampta pass and Chandratal Trek were really helpful and understanding all through the 5 days.
Being my first trek, the experience was truly wonderful.read more

Went camping with them to Bhandarara, they organized it pretty well for us. They took care of all our requirements and also gave us the freedom to explore around and relax with few reasonable constraints. Can totally count on them.read more

This was my first ever camping experience and I'm sure that it couldn't have got any better. I lived every moment with a smile. In short it was magical and I wish to go for more trips like this.read more

So far, the best way to explore North east. It was a comprehensive tour which included offbeat trekking places , unique experiences like caving and jungle treks, along with some picturesque sight seeing places. The places of stay provided were comfortable. Overall, a great, fun filled experienceread more